# guardian

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡɑɹ.di.ən/ · frequency rank #4,605

## Definitions
1. Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
2. A person legally responsible for a minor (in loco parentis).
3. A person legally responsible for an incompetent person.
4. A superior in a Franciscan monastery.
5. A major or final enemy; boss.
6. A servicemember of the United States Space Force.

## Etymology
From Middle English gardein, garden, (also wardein, > Modern English warden), from Old French guardein, from the verb guarder, of Germanic origin. Compare French gardien. Doublet of warden. By surface analysis, guard + -ian.

## Easily confused with
- **guarding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guardian-vs-guarding)
- **guardsman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guardian-vs-guardsman)
- **Guardia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guardia-vs-guardian)

## Common misspellings (11)
`gaurdian`, `gguardian`, `guadrian`, `guardain`, `guarddian`, `guardiann`, `guardina`, `guaridan`, `guarrdian`, `guradian`, `ugardian`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/guardian